Mayor Paul Winfield, Police Chief Walter Armstrong and Chief of Staff Kenya Burks are in Tunica this weekend at the Congressional Black Caucus Institute Annual Policy & Issues Conference, organized by U.S. Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss.

They arrived at the conference Thursday and will return Sunday, said Winfield, who added the purpose of the trip is to find out how Vicksburg can secure more stimulus funds.

“There are a lot of people from D.C. here,” Winfield said. “Bennie Thompson is one of the most influential people in Washington … and these folks can tell you exactly what you need to do to get that money.”

The city will pick up the tab for the officials’ four-day trip, including travel and lodging and the $300-per-attendee registration fee. North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield was to attend, said the mayor, but canceled due to a scheduling conflict. The mayor and aldermen have in recent weeks been working to plan a $30 million budget for the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1. Winfield said the benefits of the officials’ trip to the conference will outweigh the costs.

“Some people want to complain about any expenses we make. As far as I’m concerned, if we can get any federal dollars, especially those that don’t require any local matches, it’s well worth it,” he said.

The conference features a two-day golf tournament, a skeet-shooting challenge and concerts by the funk group WAR and rapper Grand Master Flash. However, Winfield said he’s most interested in sitting in on the policy forums Friday and today. 

“I’m here to work. I’m not in the golf tournament, and Grand Master Flash is a little before my time,” he said. “I’ll be spending my time going to the classes and meeting some folks to do some networking — trying to see how we can sell our city.”

Winfield said Armstrong is joining other law enforcement officials from around the state and country at the conference to learn how to tap into grants.

The City of Vicksburg has thus far been allocated $947,635 from the economic stimulus recovery fund for paving projects on Clay Street and Indiana and Wisconsin avenues, while the NRoute Transportation Commission has received $668,098, the Vicksburg Housing Authority $888,000 and the Vicksburg National Military Park $1.946 million. Overall, Mississippi is in line for about $2.8 billion from the $787 billion stimulus bill signed by President Barack Obama in February.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com